Timber smuggling to surrender: a changed scenario in Sironcha

Sironcha forest division is located at the southern tip of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra State.

On its western and southern side Telangana is situated with which boundary is demarcated by

Godavari and Pranhita river. Indravati River on its eastern boundary separates it from

Chhattisgarh. Length of interstate boundary is 120 km and 78 km with Telangana and

Chhattisgarh, respectively.

(a) (b)

High quality timber being smuggled

(a) (b)

Assault on the staff

Teak forest of Sironcha forest division is famous nationwide. Out of total forest cover, 261 ha

teak forest is of grade I and 1948 ha belongs to grade II. Socio-economic condition characterized

by illiteracy, poverty, landless situation added with availability of easy market in Telangana side

and high profit margin has resulted into heavy teak smuggling in the area. A band of timber

smuggler at times more than 80 in number fell teak tree, carry them on bullock carts cross above

said rivers and sell them in Telangana. There are many villages of which whole population is

involved in this clandestine business. It has resulted into wiping out of quality teak forest, loss of

social values and deviation of department from conversation and development programmer to

policing activity.

Teak timber being smuggled Timber crossing Godavari for Telangana

being caught

Year Particulars Gadchiroli circle Sironcha division

2011 Number of illicit felled timber 22007 6221 (28%)

Loss (lakhs) 546.88 48451 (89%)

2012 Number of illicit felled timber 22738 7455 (33%)

Loss (lakhs) 395.64 326.30 (83%)

2013 Number of illicit felled timber 20891 4782 (23%)

Loss (lakhs) 294 216 (73%)

Above table shows that though share of Sironcha in number of illicit felled timber in circle is

around 20 to 30% of circle, loss is 70 to 90%.

To tackle the situation, Shri Sanjay Devtale committee was established in January, 2013 which

gave its report on 24th

May, 2013. It contains 15 point recommendation including regular

interstate secretary level meeting, appointment of 200 vishesh forest guard, establishing 68 base

camps, putting two SRPF troop, coordination among different departments at local level, vehicle

supply, infrastructure upgradation, giving power of executive magistrate to ACF, commando

training, independent legal advisor, livelihood generation and overall development of area. This

report was accepted by the government on 6th

Aug, 2013. Now, many of these recommendations

are being implemented at ground.

Beside, recently many other initiatives have been taken by the department including joint

patrolling of staff in interior of forest, putting staff having army background at strategic places,

dismantling illegal bullock cart making units, use of camera trap in monitoring smuggling routes,

coordination with Chhattisgarh, regular meeting and coordination with Telangana forest

department, joint patrolling with Telangana forest department, effective use of secret fund in

intelligence network, skill upgradation of staff, strengthening of boat camps, organizing

workshops on legal aspects, commando training of staff and awarding those performing well.

During one of the operation against timber smuggler, one smuggler died due to bullet injury near

Karaspalli in 2013-14. Besides, at many instances staff carried out operation in Telangana side

also.

These measures have resulted into building pressure over the timber smuggler as evidenced by

more arrest of offenders per unit of timber caught, less attack over staff, decrease in the

incidence of timber smuggling. It has changed timber smuggling a high risk option, moral

downing of smugglers and moral boosting of the staff.

2012-13 2013-14

Seized bullock 181 217

Seized Bandi 302 122

4 wheeler Vehicle 1 1

Seized Bike 1 0

Arrested offender 23 55

Injured FD staffs RFO-1, RO-1,

FG-10, PL-2,

Total-14

RO-1, FG-3, PL-2,

Total-6

Death of offender

2 (one each in

Jhinganoor and

Karaspalli)

Timber seized 1498.3 cum 853.2 cum

In this background, few respectable people of villages came forward to express the absconding

offender’s wish to surrender. Village Panchayat enlisted the willing offender’s name and put

their intention on bond paper. Gram Panchayat gave tharav in this respect. With the support of

JFMC, Gram Panchayat and police department, programme was organized by the forest

department on 12th

June 2014, in Asarali range HQ. In this programme, 55 timber smugglers

belonging to 4 villages viz, Garepalli (16), Balmuttampalli (8), Tekda-Motala (17) and Asarali

(14) surrendered. A timber smuggler, Devendera Chandram Chappiddii of Asarali says that he

can’t be involved in this business again as he has taken oath in presence of everyone. Gajanan,

JFMC president of the Asarali village says that surrendered offenders are happy as they can

spend their time with their family which was not possible earlier as they used to stay away from

their home because of fear of forest department. As they were forced to hide themselves, timber

smuggling was only option which they could practice to earn their livelihood.

Table- Comparison of

the scenario of illicit

teak smuggling during

2012-13 and 2013-14

Surrender programme on 12th

June, 2014 Surrender programme on 21st December, 2014

Surrender resulted into greater cooperation between villagers and department and more

confidence of people on government system which resulted into surrender of 257 more

smugglers on 21st December, 2014. Offenders belonged to 16 villages, namely Nadikuda (89),

Kotapalli (42), Rangdhampetha (13), Chittur (7), Somnur (1), Amdeli (7), Ankisa (17), Asarali

Further, Honorable minister assured government’s all possible cooperation in this bid of forest

department to stop illicit smuggling as well as provide alternative livelihood opportunity to the

people. Though this move, people absconding from many years now can return to their home and

provide earning to their starving families through alternative means. People of the region want to

change their track as one smuggler belonging to Kotapalli said he will not let the name of his

village spoiled in future.

(2), Borraigudam (7), Sunkarali (8),

Tekeda-Motla (8), Gumalkonda (14),

Chintarevla (25), Dubapalli (10),

Wardham (6) and Pochampalli (1).

Programme was organized in presence

of Honorable tribal welfare state

minister Shri Raje Ambrishrao.

Offenders took oath not to return into

this clandestine business again.

In this regard, surrender proposal has been sent to department. Further, department is making

holistic proposal regarding infrastructure strengthening and employment generation after having

consultation with people to include their aspiration and taste which will be submitted to

government shortly. Besides, long pending demand of people for nistar and timber depot in the

area will be met in coming few days. Department has started MNREGS work in a big way to

provide livelihood to the poor families. Besides, small interventions for providing employment

generation like sewing centers, flower nursery, apiculture, lac cultivation, bamboo craft making

centre, providing fishing net to the people etc. is being made. Recently, two new agarbatti

centres (Kopela and Somanpalli) has got started and 4 new centers (Amradi, Ankisa, Kotepalli

and Sironcha) will be operational soon.

Now, generation of employment opportunities with support from district administration in this

area is foremost task. Moreover, some arrangement should be made to qualify surrender process

legally. Furthermore, surrender policy regarding illicit timber smuggling may be formulated as

there are villages which are completely involved in this clandestine business.

Surrender will result into safeguard of the forest and restoration of social values. Though it,

forest department will be able to put more focus upon the developmental need of the area. All

such efforts will give another lease of life to tall softy teak tress swaying in the forest.

Some moments during surrender on 12th

June, 2014

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

Some moments during surrender on 21st December, 2014

(a) (b)

(b) (d)

(e) (f)